Method and apparatus for electrically making copper tubes.



2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented. Oct, 16, 1917.

svwa'nmz atto'm new I E. EMERSON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY MAKING COPPER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26.1917.

Lwzmm E. EMERSON. I v METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY MAKING COPPER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-26. 1911.

1,243,274L Patented 00 5, 16, 12m.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QEDLQTQZW lli mcim E Qwvenfoz zwv ELISI-IA EMERSON, OF AUBURN, RHODE ISLAM]:

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRICALLY MAKING COPPER TUBES.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.;

Application filed January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,752.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA EMERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods and Appa ratus for Electrically Making Copper Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in method and apparatus for electrically making copper tubes and the primary object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus by and with which tubes can be more easily and cheaply produced; to provide for the manufacture of tubes possessed of any desired thickness of copper; and to enable the manufacture of a number of tubes in a single operation.

Further, the invention aims to provide a method and apparatus with which tubes may be more rapidly produced with a minimum of material andelimination of all waste in the manufacture.

The invention briefly resides in providing a fusible ring such as lead of the diameter which the inner circumference of the tube is to possess, and then to rotate the ring in a weak sulfuric acid solution until the de sired metallic thickness has been deposited on the ring, then to split the ring and apply heat thereto so as to cause the lead or other material to melt and run out of the copper tube, leaving the latter finished and ready for use.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ring in its cut state and with the copper deposited thereon.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the finished tube straightened out and ready for use.

F ig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view on line 7-7 of Tn proceeding in accordance with the present invention a tank or vat 1 is employed which is provided with end brackets 2, each of which latter has three bearings 3, and in which are journaled metal rolls 4, 5 and 6.

These rolls are arranged in a somewhat triangular formation so that their peripheries lie in register in a circle common to all as is manifest in Figs. 2 and 3'. The rolls are provided with grooves 7 which register as shown in Fig. 1. The roll 5 is driven by a suitable belt 8 and the latter in turn drives the rolls 4. and 6 in unison therewith by suitable belts 9 and 10 so that the rolls are all driven simultaneously. The vat is provided with a pair of longitudinal outer supporting bars 11 and a similar pair of longitudinal inner supporting bars 12, semicircular strips 13 and 14 being secured at their ends to the two pair of bars respectively, 50 as to receive support therefrom. A series of anodes A extending longitudinally of the vat are connected at spaced intervals to the supporting strips 13 and 14 and are submerged contained within the tank.

The anodes are in connection with one pole of a battery B by means of a Wire C which connects the bars 11 and 12, while the opposite pole of the battery is connected by wire D to a brush E which bears upon one of the rolls, preferably roll 5.

In making small size tubes ranging in diameter from, for instance one-sixteenth to a quarter of an inch, a lead or other metallic wire, which is easibly fusible and of the desired diameter, is formed into a ring W. The ring or rings are then hung upon the metallic rolls l, 5 and 6 so that the rings project in the spaces between the upper and lower sets of anodes supported by the respective strips 14 and 13. Guide bars or rods 15 are preferably used to engage the inner circumference of the lead wire rings so as to assist in retaining the lead rings in the'grooves 7 of the rolls. Belt 8 is now driven to operate roll 5 and through the belts 9 and 10, the

in a weak sulfuric acid solution S rolls 4 and 6, thereby operating the lead rings so that a uniform deposit-of copper will be attached to the same.

After the required thickness has been deposited on the lead or other rings the latter are removed'from the vat, cut as indicated at X in Fig. 4, whereupon the rings are subjected to sufficient heat to cause melting of the lead core, the melted lead running out of the rings so as to leave the latter in the form of complete copper rings L, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 7. lVhere larger copper tubes are to be made, a lead tube, instead of a solid lead wire, is'used, so as to reduce the weight carried by the machine.

It will be Obvious from the foregoing that the thickness of the copper tube Z may be controlled as desired by controlling the deposit of copper on the lead rings as Will be apparent. I

It will also be apparent that by using lead rings or tubes of desired diameter that copper tubes possessed of varyinginternal diameters may be made-and of as thin or thick form as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The herein described process for making tubes or cylinders by electro-deposition which consists in forming a fusible core in the form of a circle and securing the ends together, rotating the same in a liquid bath to cause a metallic deposit on the core, and finally in cutting the core and subjecting it to heat to cause melting of the core and its consequent removal from the metal so deposited.

inner circumference with the rolls and guide rods, means to drive the three rolls in unisun, and an electrical circuit including one of the rolls and the anodes.

3. In an apparatus for producing copper tubes, a vat, inner and outer spaced longitudinal bars connected at their ends to the ends of the vat, spaced inner and outer semicircular supports arranged transversely of the vat, means to secure said supports to the respective inner and outer bars, a series of horizontal strip-like anodes connected .to

said respective inner and outer supports,

said anodes being arranged with inter-' vening spaces therebetween so as to permit free flow of the bath there-past, anda rin driving means. i i

at. In an apparatus for producing copper tubes, a vat, inner and outer spaced longitudinal bars connected at their ends to the ends of the vat, spaced inner and outer semicircular supports arranged transversely of the vat, means to secure said supports to the respective inner and outer bars, a series of horizontal strip-like anodes connected to said respective inner and outer supports, said anodes being arranged with intervening flow of the bath therepast, guides extending longitudinally of the vat and arranged in the space between the inner and outer series of anodes, and ring driving means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my spaces'therebetween so as to permit free name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ELISHA EMERSON. Witnesses: r

ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER. 

